You Weren’t Hungry. You Were Influenced.

Hello Reader,​
✉️ Monday Momentum #33
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Heya Fit Travel Tribe,​
The topic for today's Monday Momentum is a rationale I've thought about a lot in recent travels…

The answer to: "Why did you eat that?"​
​

🍴😋"Because it was there." 😋🍴

Sometimes we finish food on our plate simply because it exists.

Not because we are starving.
​Not because it was life-changing.
​Not because we'd fly across the world for it again.

But because… it was still on the plate.
And we already paid for it.

On my recent trip to Tallinn, I was roughly halfway done with a plate of rosemary fries and all of a sudden
​I paused and thought:

• Would I order another plate of this right now?
• Would I pack this up if portions were smaller?
• Am I still enjoying this… or just finishing it?

Honestly it was "no" for all the above....so I left a bunch on the plate.

This FOR SURE applies at home as well.
I'd lightly argue it applies more if it's an expensive meal in a foreign country while on vacation.

Regardless....this is still about awareness first and then....decision making.

Good thing I've already written a post about how to eat more mindfully!

​
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📍Hello from my laundry-filled couch in Sofia!

I just wrapped up a short business trip to Tallinn.

Three nights. Two full days.
And WOW - it was brutally cold!! Like -10°C to -12°C (14°F to 10°F)

I was there for content collection in the city which means 20,000+ steps a day and a constant need to take off my gloves for photo and video content.

My hands got red and it was painful at times where I just stopped inside some shops to warm up.

Still - it was nice being back.
​It was my third visit in Tallinn and the medieval old town is just as charming as ever.

Now being home, I had a JOYFUL moment last week where a few days in a row...I felt normal!
​Stability...familiarity....routine....home ❤️

It's fatiguing finding the healthiest go-to snack items while country-hopping in unfamiliar grocery stores! When I'm home, I practice gratitude while stocking up on my favorite cottage cheese (with the best protein ratio!)

The sun is rising earlier each morning. Some mornings I'm greeted by beautiful colors on Vitosha mountain walking to the gym to teach.

We had a snow day on Saturday! Thankfully, though, it almost all melted on Sunday so we could do a lovely walk around the city.

As I'm still finalizing lots of paperwork and processes to FINALLY settle down full-time in Sofia, this sadly means next month I'll need to travel again for a couple weeks.

Good news is I've made a promise to myself, my partner, and the universe to revisit a nearby city (I'm looking at you, Prishtina!). I can't manage any new places right now. Outside Bulgaria, the rest of the Balkans feels wildly like my third home at this point.

🍎Decode Nutrition Labels on the Road

Ever stood in a grocery store abroad staring at a package that screams 20g protein! - only to realize the sugar count could fuel a dessert?

The woes of marketing for packaged food!!

This week’s featured read is all about quick label hacks that keep travel nutrition simple and smart.

Instead of reading every line, I teach you to scan 2 key numbers that actually matter:

• Protein - is it worth it?
• Sugar - too much can erase the benefit?

​
​How can you tell which ratio is "good enough"??​
​

If you want to avoid

• buying “healthy” food that’s actually sugar bombs,
• overeating because the portion looks small,
• or spending travel $$ on things that don’t support your energy,

then this post is perfect for you.
​

🌲Estonia’s Outdoors, All Year🌲

Estonia is roughly 50% forest-covered, making it one of Europe’s greenest countries.

No matter the season, locals get outside.​
​

Here’s what that looks like:

❄️ Winter:​
Cross-country skiing & winter forest walks
Cold, quiet, meditative. Snow-covered pine trees are unreal.

🌸 Spring:​
Bog walking
Boardwalk trails through marshlands as everything thaws.

☀️ Summer:​
Wild swimming + cycling
Long daylight hours, forest trails, coastal rides.

🍂 Autumn:​
Mushroom foraging & hiking
Golden forests. Crisp air. Very cozy-core energy.

Even in -10°C, you’ll see people outside.

Want some inspiration for adventures and activities in Estonia??

🛍️Buy the Right Thing in the Right Place

As much as I love saving money and scoring an awesome deal, sometimes more money upfront is a solid investment for the long run.

Here’s something I’ve noticed:

If you’re somewhere that specializes in a certain weather or lifestyle…
​that might be THE PLACE to buy the fancy gear.

Because it's there.​
AND because it's good quality.​
​

My two examples (one being recent from my last trip).

👉👉Years ago I bought rain boots in Ketchikan, Alaska - the rainiest city on Earth!

👉👉And just now, I needed a new winter hat! ​
My old one had stretched weaving and a sad, half-destroyed pom-pom from the wash.
​

SO, where best to buy one? ​
Wel...if you want a serious winter hat, buy one from a destination where winter is NO JOKE.

Just like how it's "worth it" to spend money on once-in-a-lifetime experiences you can only get in a certain destination, let's also remind ourself how we will always need to spend money on certain material things.

Instead of buying something cheap and replacing it later,
sometimes the thrifty move is investing in the version made for that climate.

Cheap twice isn’t cheaper.

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​P.S. Since buying it, every time I've worn my hat, I've been very happy with how warm it is!!

Always on my mind: More money for more travel! It's often worth a little homework for those savings 💸

“ You know what's healthier than kale? ​ A healthy relationship with food. ​ ​​ ​

A friendly favor (tiny ask): If this helped, share with one friend and use my links when you buy gear/cards. It costs you nothing - it just keeps my content free. Thank you ❤️

Feel free to always respond back to this email with any thoughts and questions you might have or content you'd love to see in the future.

Happy travels & healthy living,

Heidi​
​Heidirunsabroad.com ✈️💪

Note: Some images and GIFs sourced from Unsplash and Giphy.